Iran Accuses Qatar of Detaining Three Downed Pilots; Qatar Denies

On March 2 2026 Iranian Su-24 bomber jets were engaged by Qatari air-defence forces during the early days of the U.S.–Israeli war with Iran. Two aircraft were shot down; one pilot, Majid Kazemi, was killed and his remains were later returned to Iran. Iran’s Missing Persons Search Committee, led by General Mohammad Bagherzadeh, says the three surviving crew members—Javad Salehi, Abdolmajid Dashtian and Omran Behraveshian—ejected, were captured alive by Qatari authorities, and have been held incommunicado for six months. Qatar asserts that the pilots violated Qatari airspace, that its forces engaged them after unheeded warnings, and that only the body of one pilot was recovered.

Qatar Denies Holding Iranian Pilots Javad Salehi, Abdolmajid Dashtian, Omran Behraveshian: 32 outlets compared South China Morning PostIran says Qatar captured three pilots, calls for their release New York TimesDW NewsIran says Qatar captured 3 of its pilots early in war with US; Qatar rejects claims Qatar Denies Detaining Iranian Pilots After Downing of Aircraft Qatar Denies Holding Iranian Pilots Commander: 3 Iranian pilots captured alive by Qatar in March

The incident occurred three days after the February 28 2026 joint U.S.–Israeli strikes on Iranian territory, which sparked a broader regional war. Qatar, a close U.S. ally hosting the Al Udeid air base (the largest U.S. installation in the Gulf), reported shooting down the two Iranian Su-24s on March 2. The war has since seen an April ceasefire, a collapsed June peace framework, and ongoing skirmishes around the Strait of Hormuz.

Qatar Denies Detaining Iranian Pilots After Downing of Aircraft

• The ministry added that Qatar had invited an Iranian delegation in April to review the search-and-rescue operation, but Tehran had not responded.

The Straits Times

• The International Committee of the Red Cross has not issued a comment on the matter.

Iran says Qatar captured 3 of its pilots early in war with US; Qatar rejects claims

Iranian officials present the three pilots as alive captives, citing a letter published in Iranian media on August 15 2026. Qatar’s statements deny any detention, describing Iran’s claims as “misleading” and emphasizing that only one pilot’s body was found. No independent verification of the pilots’ whereabouts has been provided, and neither side has allowed third-party observers access to the alleged detention sites. The ICRC’s lack of response leaves the pilots’ condition unconfirmed.

Arutz Sheva (Israel National News)

• “Three Iranian pilots were captured alive by Qatari forces after their Su-24 fighter jets crashed during the war,” — General Mohammad Bagherzadeh, to ICRC president

The Straits Times

• “We categorically deny the claims circulating regarding the detention of Iranian pilots & are surprised by these misleading statements at this particular time, amid the ongoing diplomatic efforts & initiatives aimed at de-escalating tensions in the region,” — Qatar’s Foreign Ministry

Al Jazeera (website)

• “We categorically deny the claims circulating regarding the detention of Iranian pilots and are surprised by these misleading statements at this particular time.” — Al Ansari, foreign ministry spokesman

Commander: 3 Iranian pilots captured alive by Qatar in March

These quotations capture the core positions of the Iranian military commander and the Qatari foreign ministry.

Al Jazeera (website)

---

BBC News

The dispute over the three pilots underscores the broader diplomatic tension between Tehran and Doha amid a war that continues to affect regional security and maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz. Both parties have called for international humanitarian mechanisms, but without independent access the pilots’ fate remains unresolved.

Al Jazeera (website)